In it he says, “[John Smith] is the lost leader of a lost country. Had he lived, he would have entered our lives, affected our wealth, altered our morale, changed how we thought about our country, influenced the education of our children. His grin would have become a familiar icon, his diction the raw material of satire. At however many removes, and however obscurely, his personality would have glinted through the state and touched us all.”

On the 25th anniversary of John’s death, the John Smith Trust is celebrating all the work that has been done in his name since then.

For over 20 years the John Smith Trust has been working with young leaders from the countries of the Former Soviet Union, contributing to prosperous, fair and inclusive societies through its fellowship programmes and Alumni network.

There are now over 500 John Smith Trust Alumni who, in their own lives and work, have gone on to promote the values of good governance, social justice and the rule of law, that John stood for so strongly.

The John Smith Trust and its founder, Baroness Elizabeth Smith, are proud of this growing legacy and thank the many friends and supporters of the Trust who have contributed over the years.